AFTER an SNP MP raised concerns from his constituents that they were being mandated to work in the office despite concerns around Covid-19, Jacob Rees-Mogg ignored Scottish Government guidance on the issue.
The SNP's Chris Law, MP for Dundee West, said he had been contacted by constituents employed by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) who had "deep concerns" about a return to in-office working this week.
While the DWP is a UK Government department, Scottish Government advice states that working from home should continue to happen where possible.
Law called for Rees-Mogg, the Leader of the House of Commons, to reassure his constituents that he understands health is a devolved matter and the DWP will continue to listen to the Scottish Government's guidance and not consider themselves "exempt".
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Responding at Commons Business Questions, Rees-Mogg ignored the Scottish Government's guidance and instead extolled the benefits of working in an office.
He said: "I think people do want to get back into the office to work, I think it is a good thing to be doing, I think it increases productivity.
"One of the reasons we've heard all these complaints about DVLA [Driver and Vehicles Licensing Agency] is because people weren't in the office to work and therefore the 60,000 pieces of post that were received, weren't all being dealt with.
"Working from home does have disadvantages for the services delivered to the people in this country and the DWP deals with some of the most vulnerable people in this country and they need and expect to have an efficient service which is given best in person. So I would encourage people to go back to work."
Despite Scottish Government health guidance remaining unchanged on working from home, the UK Government refused to confirm today that civil servants working for the DWP in Dundee and across Scotland won't be forced to return to the office. pic.twitter.com/aZOEVI8VWn
— Chris Law MP (@ChrisLawSNP) December 2, 2021
Following the session in the Commons, Law wrote to Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey asking her to ensure that the DWP continue to follow Scottish Government health advice.
Law said: "Covid has not gone away, indeed, a new variant has just arisen, which is why it is vital that employees work from home where they can, as the Scottish Government has advised.
"By mandating DWP staff - including my constituents - to go back into the office this week, Westminster is ignoring the advice of the Scottish Government. I am pleased they have now U-turned on this decision but Jacob-Rees Mogg's response to my question today was concerning - he ignored my point about the health advice in Scotland and encouraged a return to work for all DWP staff.
"The DWP - and other UK government departments - must confirm that they will follow Scottish Government health advice when it comes to staff in Scotland. I have written to the Work and Pensions Secretary asking her to guarantee her department will do that - they should not consider themselves exempt from Scottish Government guidance."
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